The Electric Connection’s Blog

Old Kitchens Made Modern with Electrician in Pasadena

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Have you ever walked into your kitchen and tried to use the toaster only to discover it had been unplugged. Then you remember you unplugged it because you needed to use the can opener and didn’t want to unplug the Crockpot, interrupting your dinner. If you have ever experienced anything like this, then you probably need the help of an electrician in Pasadena, like those at The Electric Connection. Stop the frustration by having an electrician install additional outlets in your kitchen.

Older homes that have been renovated and made more modern tend to overlook the outlet situation in the kitchen. Fifty years ago, kitchen appliances were very minimal or considered a major luxury. In today’s world, we can’t make coffee or open a can of beans without an electrical outlet. With all the lovely appliances available today that make our lives easier, it is only normal we would want the power to use them.

You can remedy the situation with the help of an electrician. Pasadena residents can transform their kitchen into a space that works for them by having additional outlets installed. Before this can happen, the electrician will need to check out the existing electric panel to determine whether or not the current breaker can support more outlets. In most cases, an additional breaker may be needed to support the outlets. This is something an electrician can take care of for you. When it is time to install the new outlets, it is a good idea to have the electrician replace the old outlets in the kitchen with GFCI outlets. These are the standard in new home construction in the kitchen and bathroom areas. They prevent electric shock if water is splashed on an appliance. If you are ready to make your kitchen start working for you, give The Electric Connection a call today.

6 Simple Energy Savings Tips by Electrician in Glendale

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Doesn’t it always feel like no matter how well you budget and save, you are always looking in your bank account for just a few extra dollars? Maybe you have already buttoned down your spending and can’t really find any other places in the budget where you can cut back. An electrician in Glendale is here to provide you with some tips that can help lighten the burden of your electric bill. We all know every little bit helps. You can always count on The Electric Connection to answer any questions you may have about energy savings.

1-If you haven’t already done it, get rid of those incandescent light bulbs and replace them with CFLs. You could easily save $15 to $20 a month (possibly more) on lighting costs.

2-Turn down your water heater a couple of degrees. There is really no reason to have scalding hot water coming out of the tap. You can save a few dollars by not making your water heater work overtime heating water to a temperature you will not be able to use it at.

3-Have a ceiling fan installed by an electrician. Glendale homeowners will soon realize the energy savings the fans provide in the winter and the summer.

4-Invest in heavy curtains to block out the heat of the sun in the summer and the cold draft in the winter. This will help cut down on your heating and cooling costs.

5-Skip the drying cycle on the dishwasher and let the dishes air dry or use a towel to dry them by hand.

6-Consider using a clothesline in the summer to dry your laundry. You can also use a drying rack inside the home to cut down on the need for the dryer.

These are just a few things you can do to help reduce your electricity bill. There are plenty of other ways you can save. Give The Electric Connection a call today to learn more.

Transforming Dark Spaces to Inviting Areas with Electrician in Burbank

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Your home is yours to do with as you wish. There is no one size fits all and you will likely want to customize it to suit your needs. That is one of the joys of owning your home. You can paint the walls any color you choose and can use each room to suit your needs. Sometimes, there is a lot of extra space in the home that is going to waste. Your basement and the attic are often used as storage, but what if you could transform the area into a more comfortable storage space or even a living space? With a little help from a contractor and an electrician in Burbank, it is usually possible. You can feel confident when you call The Electric Connection that you will get a knowledgeable, experienced electrician to help you realize your dreams of more living space in your home.

If you just want to turn your storage space into a place that is a little more inviting, it is a good idea to have new lights installed by an electrician. Burbank residents will appreciate being able to see everything they have stored away. Often times a single light in the center of the space is all that is provided. This leaves the corners dark and tall shelves will block the light from really spreading out. An electrician can install new lighting to brighten up the space and make it much more user friendly.

You can also transform your basement into a man cave complete with outlets and light fixtures that make it much more habitable. An attic space is also a great place for a reading nook. You will need a couple of outlets to plug in fans, cell phone chargers or lamps. If you are ready to get the most out of your home, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Spring Home Improvement with Electrician in Los Angeles

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

If you are in the mood for a little spring cleaning or home improvement, you are likely looking around your home and thinking you could use some new lights. Lighting can make or break a room. Dark, dingy lighting can make a room look small or even outdated despite new furniture or a nice coat of paint on the walls. An electrician in Los Angeles can help give your room a facelift. You can count on The Electric Connection to provide you with a knowledgeable electrician who has the experience needed to make it happen.

Your dining room, kitchen or even your bathroom will be transformed with the installation of a new light fixture. It is amazing to see how different a room can look with just the right lighting. Your kitchen should be bright and inviting. Bright areas are ideal when you are working with sharp knives and need to see ingredients as well as read labels. There are plenty of options when it comes to enhancing your kitchen workspace. Track lighting is an ideal option.

Because electricity is involved, it is best to leave the Los Angeles electrical work to a professional. It isn’t a good idea to try and wire in a new light fixture if you are not trained for it. Not only do you risk your life, but you risk the safety of your home. A fixture that isn’t wired correctly may work initially, but overtime, it can be a serious fire hazard.

While you are thinking about upgrading your lighting, take a look at your living room as well. You can use track lighting or the more popular recessed lighting. This is an ideal option for the newest trend of mounting flat screen televisions to the wall. This insures your view will not be obstructed by a hanging lamp. If you would like to get started on your spring improvement plan, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Power Outage Preparation Makes Life Easier Says Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Being prepared for anything is nearly impossible, but you can be prepared for some of the little eventualities in life like a power outage. If you are prepared for the outage it is a lot less inconvenient than if you were taken completely off guard. Power outages happen for numerous reasons. Most of the time the outages are not long in duration, but there are times the outages can be extensive and your life is sorely interrupted. An electrician in Santa Monica has some advice for you to follow before an outage happens so you can be ready to deal with the aftermath. At The Electric Connection, you will find a team of knowledgeable electricians who can provide you with service to deal with any electrical problems caused by an outage. There are times appliances malfunction after a power outage. You can prevent this from happening by having a whole home surge protector installed.

You can also prepare for the lack of lights by putting a couple of flashlights along with extra batteries in a safe place that you can easily find when the lights are off. A kitchen drawer, a nightstand table or near the front door are all good places. Along with flashlights you will want to have a supply of emergency candles along with matches or a lighter. Don’t forget to keep candleholders handy as well. If you are not comfortable with using candles or relying on flashlights, you can talk with a Santa Monica electrician about installing a standby generator.

Keep the phone number of the power company handy as well. Most power companies will have an emergency number. This is the number you would call to find out how long the outage will last. If you have any more questions or would like to learn more about generators or surge protectors, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Home Security Enhanced with Security Lighting by Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

As safe as we may feel in our own homes, it doesn’t hurt to add an extra layer of safety and security. Security lights can go a long way to making your home a little safer. Well-lit homes are deterrents against crime. Perpetrators are less likely to lurk in landscapes that are bright with no dark corners. Walking through your yard or from your car to the front door can also be dangerous if you can’t see well. An electrician in Glendale, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you make your home a little safer by adding security lighting.

You can opt to have the bright flood light variety or the kind that is a little dimmer, but just as effective. Security lights mounted above your driveway, your front door or your back door are all great places to place the lights. Motion detectors or timers are ideal and ensure you will never have to worry about stepping out of your car or your house into the darkness. An electrician will help you set the timer to meet your needs.

A Glendale electrician will need to wire the lights directly into your home’s main power. This is called hard-wiring and ensures the lights are always on. However, you can choose to have your security lights installed with a switch. This gives you the freedom to turn the light off and on whenever you need it. Part of your upgraded security lighting system can also include landscaping lighting. Lighting up darkened areas under bushes and in dark corners can help you keep other unwanted pests out of your yard. Nocturnal creatures will be less inclined to hide in an area bathed in light. If you would like to brighten up your outdoors, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Understanding Service Calls by Burbank Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

When you need electric work done, you may be wondering what the first step is and what you can expect. There are plenty of businesses in the phonebook, but choosing the right one can be a bit of a guessing game. You can rest assured when you call The Electric Connection for service. You will want an electrician in Burbank that you can count on to show up on time. Knowledgeable and honest are also very important factors to consider. You have a busy schedule and will need a company with a record of showing up on time and getting the work done promptly.

When you call for a service call, you likely have a problem, but are not exactly sure what it is. You will be forced to rely on what an electrician tells you is the problem. In order to properly troubleshoot an electrical problem, various tools and equipment will be needed. Hiring an electrician that has a fully equipped work vehicle can help save a lot of time. At times, repairing electrical problems can be expensive. If you are on a budget, you will likely only want to pay for what you need to get your home up and running safely. You will need a Burbank electrician who will provide you with an honest quote about what is necessary and what is optional, but recommended.

An electrical safety inspection is always a good idea. If the electrician is at your home, it just makes sense to have the inspection done then. When it comes to your home’s electric safety, it is imperative you choose a company who only hires electricians who know what they are doing and can give you honest quotes about any work that needs to be done.

Outdoor Living Space with Help of Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Have you ever thought about maximizing your backyard? The outdoors are beautiful in the spring time and you will likely want to enjoy the fresh air after a long winter. It is exciting to be outside eating, socializing and relaxing. Maybe you have seen the surge in popularity for outdoor rooms. Everything from sitting spaces to kitchens are popping up in backyards across the country. It is an excellent way to take advantage of the additional space in your backyard while enjoying the great outdoors. An electrician in Los Angeles can help you with your goal of having an outdoor room. The team at The Electric Connection can help.

You will need to have electricity in your outdoor space for any kitchen equipment, lights and fans. Outlets for your electronics are also going to be necessary. This is something your electrician will need to handle. Because the electricity will be outdoors, it is imperative safety measures are taken to ensure there are no electrical hazards. Depending on the number of outlets you need in your new space and the type of lighting that will be used, you will likely need an additional breaker installed. This will need to be evaluated by your Los Angeles electrician. An inspection of your current electric panel will be necessary to see if there is room in the panel or if you will need a panel upgrade.

The construction of an outdoor room will typically require permits and inspections by a county official. For this reason, you will need to have a certified electrician doing the work to make sure you are meeting all codes. This is typically required by your homeowner’s insurance policy as well. You can count on the qualified professionals at The Electric Company to help you make your dream of an outdoor living space a reality.

Small Electrical Problems Can be Dangerous Explains Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Sometimes, it seems easier and faster to try and fix what you assume to be a small electrical problem yourself. Maybe you have a light that is flickering or an outlet that sporadically works. You may think that a few loose wires directly behind the outlet or light socket are causing the problem. What if you are wrong? What if the problem is much bigger and by trying to fix what you assume to be a few loose wires, you end up hurting yourself and making the problem worse? It is always best to leave these situations to a Santa Monica electrician. You can rely on The Electric Connection to provide you with prompt and experienced electricians who can take care of even the smallest problems the right way.

While a loose wire behind an outlet or a light fixture can cause some things like flickering lights or intermittently working outlets, the problem may extend to the wiring hidden in the walls. It may even be the breaker that is causing the problem. You wouldn’t be able to tell by simply looking. You will need the expertise of an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners obviously want to make sure their home is safe and not at risk of an electrical fire.

When you hire an electrician to check out what you perceive to be a tiny problem, you are getting peace of mind that any larger problems will also be identified and addressed. It is crucial that a problem be taken care of the right way. If you fix those loose wires you thought were the problem, you could end up exacerbating the situation and cause an electric fire or even electrocute yourself in the process. The process of finding the problem can be a little time consuming, but it is always better to be sure and safe than to guess and put your home at risk.

House Checkups by Burbank Electrician Can Prevent Fires

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Have you considered the thought your house may be in need of a checkup? We visit doctors to make sure we are in good health even if we don’t have any major symptoms. Your house should be afforded the same privilege to make sure it is in good health and does not pose any safety hazards to you and your family. There are things that could be lurking behind the walls that we would never suspect. Electrical problems are often a hidden danger that many homeowners are not aware of until it is too late. A Burbank electrician, like those at The Electric Connection, can give your home a checkup and look for any underlying problems. Taking care of problems before they become serious is always the best prevention of home fires.

An electric safety inspection is one way for an electrician to check out the wiring in the home. If the home is older, the wiring will be evaluated to determine whether or not it is safe or if it needs an upgrade. This is typically only something that is needed if the home is more than 50 years old. Along with the condition of the wiring, the electric panel will also be inspected by the electrician. Burbank homeowners may need to have a breaker replaced or added depending on the needs of people living in the home.

Another facet of an electric safety inspection is to check out the outlets in the home. Any outlets that are not working or have black streaks around the outer casing typically need to be replaced. Loose wires to the outlet can cause an electrical fire and should be taken care of as soon as possible. If you would like to give your home a checkup, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your appointment.